Feed-regulator for lubricators.



G. S. EOGVER.

FEED REGULATOR EOR'LUBRIGATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1914.

1 1 fiflgo mented; Feb. 16, 1915.

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G. S. HOOVER. FEED REGULATOR FOR LUBRIUATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1914.

1, 1 QSAQQO Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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GEORGE S. HDG'VEB, UF THPECANOE, OHIO, ASSIGNQR GNE"FOURTH'T0 HARRY G.BONIQ'ELL AND (ENE-FOURTH 1'0 JAMES B. GALLAHER, BOTH OF TIPPEGANGE,OHIG.

FEED-REGULATOR LUBRICATOBS.

Specification of Letters )Latent.

r tested Feb. is, reset Application filed may 8, 1914:. Serial No.837,259.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1., Gnonon S. Hoovnn, citizen of the United States,residing at Tippecanoe, in the county of Harrison and State of Ohio,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Regulators forLubricators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in feed regulatorsfor lubricators of fluid pressure engines, particularly steam engines,the primary object of my invention being the provision of an improvedform of regulator for use with lubricators from which the lubricant isforced by steam pressure, the regulator being so arranged that flow oflubricant will be automatically cut oil upon cutting off of steambetween the boiler and engine cylinders. 'I'

A further object of my invention is to provide a regulator of the abovedescribed character which may be readily adjusted to vary the flow oflubricant from the lubricator.

A still further object of.my invention is to construct a regulator insuch a manner that although normally operating to automatically out offthe flow of lubricant upon the cutting off of the flow of steam to theengine cylinders, it may be operated to permit continued passage oflubricant, if desired. And a still further object of my invention is toconstruct aregulator in such a manner that it may be employed inregulating two or more lubrioators, if desired, and further soconstructed that the lubricant may be fed from the lubricators atdiiierent rates of speed, if preferred.

With these and otherobjects in View, my invention will be more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and

then speoifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to andform a part of this application.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of myinvention applied to a conventional; locomotive engine, the pipe leadingfrom the boiler, to the en: ginecylinders being all of the locomotivestructure shown; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken throughthe regulator shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of theregulator structure shown in Fig. 1, the lubricator valve stem andbracket being shown in section; Fig. at is a view corresponding to theview shown in Fig. 3, but illustrating a somewhat modified forin ofregulator construction and also illustrating the employment'of theregulator in controlling How of lubricant from two separate andindependent lubricators; Fig. 5 is a view of the form of regulatorshownin Fig. 4 in use, this figure corresponding to the showing in Fig.1; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of the three-way valve employed inthe bypass as shown in Fig. 5..

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

My invention, in its simplest form, as

shown in Figs .1 to 3 of the drawings, in-

cludes a cylindrical casing 10 having a pipe 11 leading from one end toone 'of the pipes 12 leading to the engine cylinders of a locomotive,steam being supplied to the pipe 12 through a pipe 13 leading from theboiler and passage of steam through. this pipe being controlled by athrottle valve 14 having an. operating rod 15f.v Reciprocally I mountedin the cylinder 10 is a piston'16 having a piston rod 17 which extendsthrough that end of the cylinder opposite the pipe 11 and whichiscontinued and notched to provide a rack bar 18. Normally the piston 16is held against that end oi the cylinder from which the pipe 11 leads bymeans of a helical spring 19 surrounding the piston rodand bearingbetween the pis ton and opposite end of the cylinder. An

adjusting screw 20 is threaded through that end of the cylinder headthrough which the piston rod extends in such a manner that it may beturned to bring its inner end at any desireddistance from the oppositeend of the cylinder and so limit the amount of movement of the piston 16against the action of the spring 19. 1

I have indicated a conventional form of fluid pressure lubricator by thenumeral 21, lubricant being fed *from this lubricator though a pipe 22leading to the parts of the I mechanism to be lubricated and iiow oflubricant through this pipebeing controlled by a valve of the rotarytype hat-ing a valve stem 23. A pipe 24'leads from the steam pipe 13 atany point between the boiler and throttle valve to the lubricator 21 tosupply the necessary pressure for proper feeding of, the lubricant, thispipe being preferably provided with a manually operable cut-oi valve 25.The valve stem 23 carries a spur gear 26 which meshes with the teeth ofthe rack bar 18, this rack bar being held at all ,times in properengagement with the teeth of the gear by means of .a stirrup 27 thebight portion of which supports the rack bar and the ends of which aremounted upon the valve stem, one above and one below the gear 26.

The operation of the above mechanism will be readily understood fromreference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be clear that if thethrottle valve 14 is closed there will be no steam passing through thepipe 12 and consequently no steam assing through the pipe 11 because ofwhich the iston will be held in the position shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. As soon,- however, as. the throttle valve is opened to permitpassage of steam to the locomotive cylinders and consequent movement ofthe locomotive, a portion of the steam will pass through the pipe 11 andinto the cylinder 10, forcing the piston through the cylinder until itengages-the regulating screw 20. This movementof the piston causes therack bar 18 to turn the gear 26 and consequently the valve stem 23 toopen the valve and perinit flow of lubricant under pressure of steam inthe pipe 24, to the parts to be lubricated. It will of course be clearthat the extent to which. the lubricator valve will be opened dependsupon the amount of movement of the piston and consequently upon theposi- -tion of the adjusting ,screw 20.

Instead of the above described mechanism, I may employ the form of feedregulator disclosed in Figs. 4 to- 6 of the drawings.

In these figures, the cylinder 10 is replaced by a compound cylinder,indicated as a whole by the numeral 28 and including a main cylinder 29and a smaller-supple mental cylinder 30, these cylinders beingpreferably of equal length but in anyevent of diiierent diameters'and soconnected as to communicate with each other as shown in Fig. 4. A pipe31 leads from the steam pipe 13 at any point between the boiler andthrottle valve 14 to the outer end of the smaller cylinder 30, while apipe 32 leads from the outer end of the lar er cylinder to the pipe 13at any point between the throttle valve and the pipes 12. A piston-33 ism n for r cipro ati n in the larger throughrthat end 0 the largercylinder 29 opposite the pipe 32 in order to limit the movement of thepiston 33 and consequently of the piston 35. v

It will of course be clear that when the throttle valve 14: is closed,the piston 35 will be subject to boiler pressure because of the passageof steam through the pipe 31 into the smaller cylinder whereas thepiston 33 will not be subject to pressure as there will be no steampassing through the pipes 21 and consequently no steam supplied to thepipe 32. For this reason both pistons will occupy the position shown inFi i. As soon, however, as the throttle va ve l i is opened,the-steampressure will be equal in.

the pipes 31 and 32 and this steam pressure acting against, both the,pistons 32 and 35 will cause'them to moveuntil the piston 33 engages theadjusting stirew 36, this action being due'to the difference in pistonarea exposed to the pressure of the steam. As soon as the throttle valveis again closed, passage of steam through the pipe 32 will .becut offand the steam pressure in the cylinder 30 will return the pistons, andconsequently the piston rod, to their original position. It will ofcourse be clear that this piston rod 34 may have its outer end con-'structed in the form of a rack to mesh with the spur gear 26 of thelubricator 21. How ever, this form of lubricator regulator may beemployed, as may the form previously described, to afegulate the flow oflubricant from a numberof lubricators. Such an arrangement is disclosedinFig. ,4: in which the free end of the piston rod carries a pin 37extending through the slotted ends of operating levers 38, each of whichis provided with a plurality of pin receiving openings 3g). These leversare pivoted for swinging movement by means of pivot pins 40 passedthrough any one of the openings 39 and into supporting brackets, notshown.

'It will of course be clear that the extent to,

levers-rue slotted to receive pivot pins 41 mes es carried by rack bars4:2, these rack bars being supported in the stirrups 27 of the valvestems of a pair of lubricators 21, the lubricatorsnot being shown inthis figure as 4 they have been previously shown in Fig. 1.

though the engine proper is not being driven by steam pressure initscylinders. For in stance, upon locomotives in exceptionally hillycountries where the trains coast or drift for miles with the throttlevalve closed, it might be highly important to provide means for insuringa constant flow of lubricant to certain bearings even when the enginewas not running. For this reason, I have shown a slight modification inFigs. 5 and 6 consisting of the provision of a threeway valveeilinserted in the pipe 32 and from which a bypass pipe 44 leads to the pie 31. This valve, as best shown in Fig. 6, includes a valve casing 45having ports 46 and 47 in alinement with each other for connectibn inthe pipe 32 and the third ort 48 for connection with the ,pipe 44.ounted for turning in this casing, is a valve 49 having a diametricpassage 50 to establish communication between the ports 46 and i7 andthe branch passage 51 which, upon proper turning of the valve, may beutilized to establish connection between the pipe 44: and that portionof the pipe 32 leading into the cylinder 29. Ihe valve is, of course,provided with a valve stem 52 by means of which it may be manually turned to either position.

Aswill be readily understoodby reference to Fig. 5 and to the valvedisclosed in Fig. 6, turning of the valve to such position as toestablish communication between the pipe and cylinder 29 will, atalltimes, insure the same pressure in both cylinders 29 and 30 andconsequently hold the pistons in such a position as to keep thelubricator valves open.

Although I have illustrated and described the employment of one type ofregulator to controls. single lubricator and another type to control anumber of lubricators, it will be understood that either type may beemployed to control a single lubricator or to control a number oflubricators. It will further be understood that the bypass valve 43 andpipe 4% may or may not be employed as deemed advisable. In other words,I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details and combination ofdetails as various minor changes, within the scope of the appendedclaims, may be made at any time without in the slightest degreedeparting from the spirit of m'v invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is z 1. In afeed regulator for lubricators, the

combination with a lubricator having a rotary lubricant controllingvalve and valve stem, of a gear carried by the valve stem, a cylinder, apiston in the cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston andoperatively engaging tlie gear, and means for supplying pressure to thepiston in the cylinder.

2. In a. feed regulator for lubricators, the combination-witha'steampipe leading from a boiler to an engine cylinder, anda-throttlevalve in the steam pipe, of a' lubricator having a revoluble lubricantcontrolling valve and valve stem, 2. gear carried by the valve stem, acylinder, a pipe communicating between one end of the cylinder and thesteam pipe at a point between the throttle valv and engine cylinder, apiston movable in the and extending through the other end of thecylinder, and rack teeth formed on the pispipe at a point between thethrottle valve and engihe cylinder. a piston movable in the cylinder, apiston rod carried by the piston and extending through the other end ofthe cylinder, rackteeth formed on the piston rod and meshing with thegear, and means for normally holding the piston against that end of thecylinder communicating with the steam pipe.

i. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a steampipeleadin from a boiler to an engine cylinder anda t rottle valve inthe steam pipe, of a lubricator having a revoluble lubricantcontrolling. valve and valve stem, a gear carried by the valve stem, acylinder, a pipe communicating between one end of the cylinder and thesteam pipe at a point between the throttle valve and engine cylinder, apiston movable in the cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston andextendin through the other end of'the, cylinder, rac teethformed on thepiston rod and meshing with the gear, and means adjustable for limitingthe movement of the piston. 5. In a feed reg lator for lubricators, the

. cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston I combination with asteam pipe leading from a boiler to an enginecylinder and a throttlevalve in the steam pipe, of a lubricator havinga revoluble lubricantcontrolling valve and valve stem, a gear carried by the valve stem, acylinder, a pipe communicating between one end of the cylinder and thesteam pipe at a point between the throttle valve and engine cylinder, apiston movable in the cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston andextending through the other end of the cylinder, rack teeth formed onthe'piston leading from the outer end of the larger cylinder to thesteam pipe at the other side of the throttle valve, 'and operativeconnection between the piston rod and a lubricator.

7. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a steampipe and a throttle valve in the pipe, of communicating cyl-. inders ofunequal diameters, pistons mounted in the cylinders, a common piston rodfor both pistons, a pipe leading fromv the outer.

end of the smaller cylinder to the steanr pipe at one side of thethrottle valve, a pipe leading from the outer end of the larger cylinderto the steam pipeat the other side of the throttle valve, and operativeconnections between the piston rod. and a plurality of lubricators, eachof said connections being independently adjustable. I

8. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a steampipe and a throttle valve in the pipe, of communicating cylinders ofunequal diameters, pistons-mounted in the cylinders, a common pist n rodfor both pistons, a pipe leading from the 50 outer end of the smallerpiston to the steam pipe at one side of the throttle valve,-

-a pipe leading from the outer end of the larger cylinder tqlfethe steampipe 'at the other side of the tliiottle valve, operative connectionbetween the piston rod and lubricator, a three-way valve interposed insaid latter pipe, and a bypass leading from the three-way valve to theformer pipe.

'9. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with aplurality of lubricators,

each having valves adapted to open and closethrough turning T movementof their stems, gears carried by the valve stems,

rack bars meshing with the gears, levers pivotallyconnected to the rackbars and pivotally supported intermediate their lengths, a piston rodpivotally connected to the free ends of all of the levers, and fluidpressure controlled means for reciproeating the piston rod.

10. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with aplurality of lubricators,

each having valves adapted to open and close through turning movement oftheir stems, gears carried by the valve stems, rack bars meshing withthe gears, levers pivotally connected to the rack bars and pivotallysupported intermediate their lengths, a piston rod pivotally connectedto the freeendsof all of the levers, and fluid pressure controlled meansfor reciprocating the piston rod, said means including a cylinder intowhich the piston rod extends, a piston carried by the piston rod formovement in the cylinder, and means foradmitting steam under pressure tothe cylinder.

11. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with aplurality of lubricators,

each having valves adapted to open and close through turning movementoftheir stems, gears carried by the valve stems, rack bars meshing withthe gears, levers pivotally connected to the rack bars and pivotallysupported intermediate their lengths,'a piston rod pivotally connectedto the free ends of all of the levers, and fluid pressure controlledmeans for reciprocating the; piston rod, said means including a cylinderinto which the piston rod extends, a piston carried by thepiston rod formovement in the cylinder, means for admitting steam under pressureto'the cylinder, and means for reversing the movement of the piston uponturning oif of the steam. 1

12. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with" aplurality of lubricators, each having. valves adapted to open and closethrough turning movement of their stems, gears carried by the vvalvestems,

rack bars meshing with the gears, levers pivotally connected to the rackbars and pivotally supported intermediate their lengths, a piston rodpivotally connectedto ends of all of the levers, andrfluid pressurecontrolled means for reciprocating the piston rod, said means includin acylinder into which the'piston rod exten s, a piston carried by thepiston rod for movement in the cylinder, means for admitting steam underpressure to the cylinder, and means for reversing the movement "bf thepiston upon turning oil of .the steam, said means including a secondcylinder communicating. with thefree the first and of smaller diameter,a second piston carrieidby the piston rod and movable in the secondcylinder, and means for admitting steam to the second cylinder.

I 13. Ina feed regulator for lubricators, thecombination with a steampipe including a valve, of a luhricator, and means controlled byvariations in steam pressure in the steam pipe at opposite sides of thevalve for controlling the opening and closing of the lubricater.

14. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a steampipe including a valve, of a lubricator, a valve for the lubricator, andmeans controlled byvariations in steam pressure in the steam pipe at0pgosite sides of the valve for controlling the means including acylinder connected at opposite sides of the steam pipe at opposite sidesof the valve, a plunger mounted in the cylinder, and operativeconnection between the plunger and valve of the lubrieator.

In testimon whereof I in presence GEORGE S. H Witnesses:

JONAS H. SEPTER, "WILLIAM Rosa.

afix my signature 0 two witnesses.

oovnn. a 5.1

